New technology to dispose of medical waste creates furore
safe disposal of medical waste is a challenge faced by most medical institutes and hospitals. But if the Gujarat-based Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technologies (fcipt) is to be believed, the problem may soon be resolved. fcipt has developed the plasma pyrolysis system. "It is an ecofriendly technology that converts waste into commercially useful by-products," claims S K Nema, a scientist with fcipt. The centre, which is a part of the Institute of Plasma Research, developed the technology in collaboration with the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (tifac) of the department of science and technology.
The system runs with the help of plasma -- a collection of electrically charged particles such as electrons, and non-charged particles like radicals (chemically reactive atom or molecule). Plasma is often called the fourth state of matter after solid, liquid and gases. Its temperatures can increase up to 10,000c. The system consists of a plasma torch, a quenching/scrubbing unit and two chambers -- primary and secondary (see diagram: Pandora's box?). The torch (consisting of two electrode devices that convert electrical energy into heat energy) has also been developed by fcipt. In the primary chamber, waste is fed and treated with plasma emitted by the torch. Thereafter, gases and slag are formed in the chamber. The gases include carbon monoxide, nitrogen and hydrocarbons. They are decontaminated (scrubbed) in the secondary chamber (with the help of a chemical/water shower). The temperature of the gases is also reduced from 600c to less than 80c during the quenching process. The whole process takes place in absence of oxygen.
The system can treat 15-20 kilogrammes of hospital waste per hour. It can be set-up at the cost of about Rs 10-12 lakh. Efforts are on to generate electricity from the gases. The slag can be used for construction purposes, wool insulation or for road construction. Scientists claim that plasma pyrolysis has a lot of advantages over other technologies such as incineration or hydroclave -- it can treat a mixture of waste (except radioactive one); and the process takes place at very high temperatures (800c in primary chamber and 1200c in the secondary chamber), which is a prerequisite to ensure that dioxins are not formed.
A pilot plant was launched at the Ahmedabad-based Gujarat Cancer Research Institute in 2001. fcipt claims the air emissions of the plant are satisfactory. The commercial proto-type (research) system was completely developed in July 2003. The first such plant will be soon set-up at the Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. The centre has transferred the technology to Ahmedabad-based M/s Bhagawati Pyrotech Limited, which will market the systems.
As of now, the technology awaits a final nod from the New Delhi-based Central Pollution Control Board (cpcb), after which it might be notified under the Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. "During a meeting held in August 2003, it was decided that an official would check the functioning of the pilot plant. Based on his report, a final decision would be taken," informs a scientist with tifac.
Whereas government is going gung-ho about this indigenous technology, green groups call it another 'burn technology'. "We have been demanding data about the emissions for the past one year, but the concerned officials have turned a deaf ear," says Ravi Agarwal, coordinator of Srishti, a New Delhi-based non-governmental organisation. M/s Bhagawati Pyrotech Limited is collecting the data and its report should be ready by September 15, 2003.
Questions are also being raised about the trials. "How can the government carry out such trials at public hospitals and endanger public health?" questions an environmentalist. He claims that many countries are using 'non-burn technologies' to manage their hospital waste. Then why is the Indian government pushing for 'burn technology'? The claims of fcipt about dioxins are also being questioned. "Pyrolysis is still not an approved technology. Therefore, no emission norms have been developed," reveals a cpcb official. "Replacing the burner (used in incinerators) by plasma torch does not take care of the risks. As of now, there are no emission standards for pyrolysis systems in India," asserts Agarwal.
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